New Sony BDP-S350 Blu-ray player now at retail

Will include BD Live with planned future firmware update

By Susanne Ault -- Video Business, 7/16/2008

The player will mark Sony’s first Web-enabled BD Live set-top once a firmware update becomes available later this year. As expected, the BDP-S350 will launch at about $400.

Besides the upcoming Web capabilities, other features that distinguish the player from Sony’s earlier BDP-S300 set-top include picture-in-picture playback and faster boot-up time. Sony also has added its Precision Drive HD technology, which corrects wobbling discs and stabilizes playback of bent or scratched Blu-ray discs and DVDs.

Additionally, Sony is touting the BDP-S350’s smaller dimensions, which will help cut the players’ shipping carbon emissions by about 43%. Its overall size has been reduced by 55% from the older player. That combined with 52% less packing material has worked to drop the entire unit’s weight by 38%.

In other green enhancements, the BDP-S350 uses 21% less power in playback mode and 43% less power in stand-by mode. Also, its user guide is printed on 70% recycled paper with compound-free vegetable oil-based ink.

“We leveraged our expertise in film production and digital technology to build a machine that movie fans would truly love,” said Chris Fawcett, VP of marketing for Sony Electronics’ Home Products Division. “An advanced Blu-ray Disc player like the BDP-S350 is a must for every HDTV owner, because it delivers the ultimate video and sound quality, while unlocking features you can’t find on DVD, downloads or video-on-demand.”

In other set-top developments, Best Buy recently shaved about $20 from its Insignia Blu-ray player, which just launched exclusively at the chain in June. Now at $329.99, the Insignia is still priced higher than Wal-Mart’s $298 Magnavox player. Although sold under different brand names, the two players are considered to feature similar machinery from their shared manufacturer, Funai.